LOGINBella’s POVZayden’s brows furrowed as his eyes swept over me.“I asked you a question. Where have you been?”My heart was beating fast but then I paused. Why should I be afraid of this man? He was the one who left me.“And why do you care?” I folded my arms. “It’s bold of you to ask me that when you’re the one who left me first.”“I didn’t leave you Bella— I’ve been looking all over for you.” He replied.“Yeah, right.” I brushed past him. “Get out of my way.”“Where are you going?” He chased after me.I stepped out into the cold night. “I don’t know. Anywhere you’re not.”“This is ridiculous, Bella stop it.”He pulled me back. But I yanked my hand free from him. “Don’t touch me, okay?” I snapped. “I don’t want you touching me Zayden.”“What is wrong with you?” He asked, voice rising now. “I’m trying to talk and you're behaving like a fucking child.”“Because that is what I am,” I replied. “Until you came along and yanked me away from my family and now you’re dragging me to galas tha
Bella’s POV"Moretti?" I stared at him, the name catching in my throat.He smiled. "Yes. Does the name ring a bell?""No, it's not that." I shook my head quickly. "I've just... never met another Moretti before.""Really?" He tilted his head. "Who was the first?"I opened my mouth to answer — then stopped.This was a Moretti function. Mentioning Matteo, the man my husband killed, in front of a stranger who shared his last name? Not wise."No one," I said. "It's no one."He studied me for a second, then nodded as if he didn’t believe a word of it.“Well,” he said, glancing toward the door behind me, “based on what is happening in that room, I don’t think the people inside would appreciate being interrupted.”My eyes drifted toward the door.The muffled sounds coming from inside were enough to make my cheeks warm.“Probably not,” I admitted.He chuckled. "At parties like this, forget you came with a date. There are plenty of people to fill that void."I noticed his tone. Flirty. Too flir
Bella’s POVI watched her take him away.The red dress. The way she touched his arm. The way he smiled — not his usual arrogant smirk, but something real. Something that made my chest tighten.I told myself I didn't care.But I kept watching.She led him toward the bar, her red hair swinging, her laugh carrying across the room. Zayden followed like he had forgotten I existed.I hated that I noticed. And then after a while she took him by the hand and led him through a narrow corridor until they got to the door at the end and walked in.I turned away. Looked around. Nico and Tomás were gone too. Vanished into the crowd like smoke.Now I was standing alone at a gala full of strangers.Perfect.The gala was awful.I tried to enjoy myself. I got a drink — something bubbly and expensive. I walked around, pretending to look at the artwork. I smiled at people who passed, but no one smiled back.Then the whispers started."That's Alejandro Mendoza's daughter.""The one Romano married?""After
Zayden’s POVI stood in the foyer with Nico and Tomás, waiting.The clock on the wall ticked slowly. I checked my watch for the third time in five minutes."Would you relax?" Tomás leaned against the bannister. "She's coming.""You don't know that.""She's your wife. And I’m not sure you gave her a choice!” He scoffed.I didn't answer.Footsteps echoed from the staircase and I looked up.Bella descended slowly, one hand on the railing, her black dress flowing behind her. The fabric hugged her curves before falling to the floor. Her hair was tied up in a sleek back ponytail. Her lips were red.Tomás whistled. "She’s hot."Nico elbowed him. "Watch it."I said nothing. But my jaw tightened.She was supposed to wear red. I know she did that to piss me off.Bella reached the bottom of the stairs and walked toward me. Her eyes met mine, calm and steady."I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long," she said.I stepped closer. "No. You look stunning."I placed my hand on her waist and leaned
Bella’s POVIt had been two days since I had seen Zayden.Two days since he collapsed.Two days since Emerald threw me out of his room like I didn’t belong there.And two days since I promised myself I would stop caring.The problem was that promises were easier to make than keep.It was the day of the gala. I sat in front of the vanity mirror while Gianna stood behind me, brushing through my hair.The room was quiet.“Careful, please,” I said, the moment she tugged tightly at my hair. Gianna immediately eased her grip. “Sorry.”“It’s okay.” I waved a hand.She smiled, pulled my hair into a sleek back and tied it up into a neat ponytail.Our eyes met in the mirror…I could tell she wanted to speak."What's on your mind?" She asked me finally.I raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"She smiled. "The room may be silent, but your thoughts are very loud."I laughed. Despite everything, I laughed. "It's nothing."Gianna tilted her head. "You're the one who said you wanted us to get to know each
Zayden’s POVI woke up feeling heavy.That was the only word for it. Heavy. Like someone had filled my bones with lead and my lungs with cotton. My arms felt like they belonged to someone else. My legs wouldn't move when I told them to.I blinked at the ceiling, tired. The light was too bright. The room smelled like antiseptic and something floral.An IV line was taped to my arm.I stared at it for a long moment, letting the memories trickle back. The cough. The fire in my chest. My mother's voice asking if I was okay. The nurse stood at the foot of the bed, reviewing a chart. My mother sat in the armchair by the window, her arms crossed, her expression carved from stone."You're awake," Maria, the nurse, said. "How are you feeling?""Fine," I lied.She didn't look convinced. "You're going to need a lot of rest. This was one of those episodes — the kind we've been trying to prevent.""I know." I shrugged."Have you been taking your medication?" She asked me."Yes.""Have you been sle
Bella’s POV I woke up two hours ago, getting ready for my night out with Matteo. I slipped on my heels, taking one last look at myself in the mirror. The dress was black silk, clinging like a second skin, neckline plunging just enough to make my father pretend he didn’t notice. I took a deep
Zayden’s POV I’d had more one-night stands than I could count. Faces I forgot before the sun rose. Names I never asked for. But her? Bella. She was different. In my mind. On my skin. In the silence between my thoughts. There was something in the way she fell apart that night—quietly and desperate
Bella’s POVThat night, I stood outside my father’s office with my hand lifted, knuckles hovering inches from the door.My pulse wouldn’t slow.Everything in me screamed that what I was about to do was dangerous—but danger didn’t scare me anymore. Not after Zayden Romano. Not after the slap. Not a
The cold night air burned my lungs as I dragged from the cigarette.I didn’t even smoke….I never had.But tonight, I needed something to burn, something to choke down the chaos clawing up my throat.I stood near the side of the courtyard, hidden between tall hedges, the glowing tip of the cigarette







